All Chapters of THE COST OF LOVING YOU : Chapter 41 - Chapter 49

Nico’s jaw tightened, but before he could even reply, a voice chimed in from the side, bright and playful, cutting through the tension like a knife.“Excuse me? Hello?”They both turned to look. Tessy was still standing near the doorway with Ethan, but she had turned her attention fully to them, raising her hand with a cheeky, wide grin on her face.“If she won't have it,” Tessy said, nodding her head toward the key in Nico’s hand, her tone light and teasing, “I’m right here! I am available! I have two legs, I know how to drive, and I promise I will appreciate it way more than she does. Just hand it over, Mr. Jordan. I am ready and waiting to take it off your hands.”She winked, and for a split second, the heavy atmosphere lifted. Even Nico let out a small huff of amusement, and Grandma Margaret chuckled from the bed.Ava didn't laugh though. She just crossed her arms again, waiting.Nico looked back at Ava, the amusement fading from his face as he searched hers, trying to understand

Ava woke up slowly, the morning light filtering softly through the curtains. She reached for her phone on the nightstand and dialed Tessy’s number. It rang three times before her friend picked up.“Hello? Ava? Good morning,” Tessy said, her voice sounding a little groggy.“Morning, Tessy. Did I wake you?” Ava asked, sitting up against the headboard.“No, no. I was already awake. Actually… I’ve been wanting to call you. Look, Ava, I am really sorry about how I acted at the hospital the other day. I was being rude and sharp, like a total bitch. I spoke out of turn and I shouldn’t have done that. I feel terrible about it, honestly.”Ava let out a small breath and smiled faintly. “It’s okay, really. You were just looking out for me. I know you meant well. Don’t worry about it.”“Are you sure? You’re not mad at me?”“Not at all. We’re good.”“Okay, good. So… how are things over there? Living under the same roof as Serena now? How are you holding up?”Ava paused, staring at her hands. “I’m

Nico stood there, completely stunned. His mind was still trying to catch up, one moment he was fumbling to explain why he’d kissed Serena, and the next, Ava’s lips were on his, warm and demanding. When she finally pulled back just enough to look him in the eye, he was still breathing hard, his expression a mix of shock and confusion. “What was that for?” he asked, his voice rough. “Ava, I was trying to tell you…” “Shh,” she cut him off, placing a finger gently over his lips. She looked up at him, no trace of the earlier anger in them now. “Don’t explain. Not right now.” She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a soft, clear whisper that sent a shiver straight through him. “Make love to me.” Nico’s mouth fell open slightly. He stared at her, certain he must have heard wrong. “What?” “You heard me,” she said simply. “Make love to me. Right here.” He shook his head, stepping back a little to clear his head. “Ava, I can’t. I have a meeting in an hour. Important work. I really nee

Ava had barely been back in the penthouse for an hour when her phone buzzed repeatedly. She pulled it out of her bag and saw a flood of messages, mostly from Tessy. She opened the first one, and gasped.It was a photo taken from a distance, as she had walked away from the restaurant earlier. The image was clear enough to show her face, and right underneath it was a bold caption:“Mystery woman spotted in Nico Jordan’s inner circle, is she just the spa and wellness help, or something more? The city is talking!”It was posted by one of the biggest society bloggers in the city, and it had already been shared hundreds of times.Ava tapped Tessy’s name to call her, and she picked up straight away.“Did you see it?” Tessy asked. “Everyone is sending it to me! ‘Who is this girl? Where did she come from?’ Serena set this up, didn’t she? She made sure someone was there with a camera!”“It looks that way,” Ava said quietly, staring at the screen. “She wanted people to see me, but also to make s

It was late morning when a soft but firm knock fell on Ava’s door. She looked up from her books, pen hovering over the page, wondering who it could be…Nico was usually at the office by now, and Serena never knocked before stepping in. She stood, arranged her clothes, and pulled the door open just enough to see who stood there.Ethan leaned casually against the frame, hands in his pockets, looking relaxed but serious. He glanced quickly over his shoulder down the hallway before meeting her eyes.“Ethan?” Ava blinked, surprised. “What are you doing here? Is Nico looking for you?”“Not exactly,” Ethan said, stepping forward slowly when she pulled the door wider. “Actually… Nico doesn’t even know I came. I made sure he was tied up in meetings across town before I headed over. Can I come in for a minute? Won’t take long.”Ava hesitated only a second, then stepped back to let him pass. “Sure. Come in.”He walked over to the window, looking out across the city for a moment before turning bac